Airplane



July 23, 1935. H. WIRTH 2,008,737

AIRPLANE Filed June 13, 1932 ll' h.

lNVENTOR f/senmw I V/eTH ATTORNEY Patented July .23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the providing of an air passageway through the body of an airplane for the purpose of producing a surface within the plane that can be utilized for applying air pressure against to lift the plane.

It is an object of the invention to provide an air passageway through the body of an airplane and to mount the motor and propeller within the passageway so that the air that is drawn by the operation of the propeller will be forced through the passageway in such a manner as to cause it to have a lifting and driving effect on the plane.

In the present method of construction where the propeller is operated on the front end of the plane, much of the air pressure that is caused by the operation of the propeller is lost. It is, there fore, an object of the present invention to improve the construction of airplanes so that all of the air pressure that is caused by the operation of the propeller can be utilized to lift and drive the plane.

It is another object of the invention to improve airplanes by providing a surface within the plane for applying the air pressure against, so that practically no wing will be needed and thereby much weight and resistance eliminated.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be made manifest in the following de.- scription of the preferred form of the invention that is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification.

It is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment shown by said drawing and description as variations may be adapted within the fundamental principle of the invention as set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational and sectional view of a preferred form of airplane and shows the air passageway that is provided through the body of the plane.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the plane.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view and shows the opening through which the air is forced out of the plane.

Figure 4 is a front end view of the plane and shows the propellers mounted in the front open end of the air passageways.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the plane.

Referring in detail to the different parts wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 8 designates a preferred form of plane which is preferably shaped as shown in Figure 1. This form is circular with the front and rear ends running to a point so that the resistance of the plane passing through the air will be reduced to a minimum. However, it is to be understood that 5 the body of the plane may be made in any suitable form that will best serve the purpose of the invention. The numeral Ill designates the air passageway that is provided through the body of the plane. This passageway can have any suitable shape and extend through the body of the plane at any suitable angle and also can project above the body of the plane at any suitable distance and in any suitable manner that will best serve the purpose of the invention. A 15 plurality of separate passageways, one for each propeller, can be provided through the plane instead of a single passageway if desired. The numeral 12 designates a motor and M a propeller that is operated by the motor for driving the plane. Any suitable number and any suitable type of motors and propellers can be used. In the present illustration the motor is shown mounted in the upper front end of the passageway. It is particularly desirable to mount the propeller in the upper front end of the passageway, but it is to be definitely understood that the motor can be located in any other position and connected to the propeller by means of a chain or driving gears if desired. The numeral I5 designates a 30 standard airplane rudder which can be located in any suitable position, but is preferably arranged at the outlet of the passageway where the air will have its highest density. The numeral l6 designates a small wing which can be 35 used, if desired, but is provided preferably for the purpose of stabilizing the plane.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the propeller is operated to move the plane that air will be drawn in the passageway and that the pressure of the air will be applied against the upper surface of the passageway as shown by the arrows l8. This pressure will naturally .cause a lifting effect to be applied on the plane.

Likewise, the pressure of the air will be forced out of the),- passageway underneath the body of the plane where it will cause the air'underneath the plane to have a greater density. It is also noted that the airis forced out of the passageway directly adjacent the wing I6 which will cause the air to be at its greatest density directly underneath said wing where it will produce the greatest lifting effect. Besides having a lifting efiect on the plane, the forcing of the air at a very high velocity longitudinally 65 out of the plane, as illustrated in Figure 1, will produce a driving eflect on the plane. It will thus be seen that all of the air pressure is utilized to lift and drive the plane, and that the resistance caused by the necessity of having large wings will be eliminated. Both of these features, together with the fact that much weight will be reduced, will cause the plane to have a higher eiilciency.

Having thus illustrated and described a certain form of construction and arrangement of parts pertaining to the invention, it is desired to include in this application for Letters Patent 0! the United States of America any and all patentable novelty that exists in the illustration and description disclosed and all that comes within the fundamental principle of the invention as set forth in the claim hereinafter mentioned.

- What is claimed:

An airplane having an air passageway extending at an angle from above the top of the plane to and through the bottom of the plane, a wing provided crosswise on the bottom of the plane and arranged adjacent the outlet of the air passageway, a motor mounted in said air passage-.- way, and a propeller connected-to said motor and adapted to convey air through the passageway for the purpose oi producing a lifting pressure against the upper inside surface of the passageway and a greater density of air underneath the wing and the lower surface of the plane.

- HERMAN WIRTH. 

